"Baldur's Gate 3 Patch 8 Release Date Announced with 12 New Subclasses"

Larian Studios has officially announced that the highly anticipated Patch 8 for Baldur’s Gate 3 will launch on Tuesday, April 15. This patch, which has been in stress test form for some time, is now ready to roll out to all players, bringing a significant update to the already acclaimed Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game.

Patch 8 introduces an array of new content, including 12 new subclasses that promise to enhance gameplay and player experience. In addition to these subclasses, players can look forward to a new photo mode, cross-play functionality, and split-screen support on Xbox Series S. For a detailed look at all the changes and additions, you can check out the Baldur's Gate 3 Patch 8 patch notes.

Bard - College of Glamour
As a member of the College of Glamour, Bards can now harness the power to heal allies and manipulate enemies. With the Mantle of Inspiration spell, you can grant your allies 5 temporary hit points, and if an enemy attacks during this spell, they become Charmed. Utilize Mantle of Majesty to command these charmed foes to flee, approach, freeze, drop to the ground, or relinquish their weapons.

Barbarian - Path of Giants
Choosing the Path of Giants grants Barbarians enhanced strength and size through the Giant’s Rage passive, allowing for increased damage with Throw attacks and a higher carry capacity. This subclass is perfect for those who enjoy a more physical approach to combat.

Cleric - Death Domain
Clerics of the Death Domain gain access to spells that deal necrotic damage and three new necromancy cantrips, including Toll The Dead, which can cause 1-8 damage, scaling with prior damage to the target. Additionally, a new homebrewed ability allows you to explode nearby corpses, damaging enemies around them.

Druid - Circle of Stars
Druids in the Circle of Stars can tap into celestial powers through three Starry Forms: the Archer, Chalice, and Dragon. Each form offers unique abilities, from dealing radiant damage with astral arrows to restoring hitpoints and enhancing constitution rolls, providing versatile options for healers, fighters, and strategists.

Paladin - Oath of the Crown
Paladins sworn to the Oath of the Crown can guide their allies with Righteous Clarity, taunt enemies with strategic interrupts, and protect their party with Divine Allegiance, absorbing damage and restoring health.

Fighter - Arcane Archer
Arcane Archers blend magic with marksmanship, offering unique skills and new shooting animations. They can banish foes to the Feywild or unleash Psychic damage, potentially blinding enemies.

Monk - Drunken Master
Drunken Masters can consume alcohol from their inventory or around the Sword Coast to recover Ki. Using Intoxicating Strike, they can share the bottle with enemies, boosting their Armour Class and hit chance against drunk targets, who are also vulnerable to Sobering Realisation, dealing physical and Psychic damage.

Ranger - Swarmkeeper
Swarmkeeper Rangers can summon three types of swarms: Cloud of Jellyfish for lightning damage, Flurry of Moths for Psychic damage and potential blindness, and Legion of Bees for piercing damage and knockback. Each swarm also offers teleportation capabilities.

Rogue - Swashbuckler
Swashbuckler Rogues can now blind enemies with sand, disarm them with a flick of their weapon, and use Fancy Footwork to avoid opportunity attacks during melee combat.

Sorcerer - Shadow Magic
Shadow Magic Sorcerers thrive in darkness with Superior Darkvision and the ability to Shadow Walk between dim light or darkness. They can summon the Hound of Ill Omen and use Strength of the Grave to avoid being downed, making them ideal for challenging runs.

Warlock - Hexblade
Hexblade Warlocks form a pact with a Shadowfell entity, gaining magical weapons to curse enemies and raise their spirits as summons for ten turns. These summons deal necrotic damage and heal the Warlock by siphoning enemy souls.

Wizard - Bladesinging
Bladesinging Wizards combine swordplay with spellcasting, featuring new animations and the Bladesong ability, which enhances speed, agility, focus, and Constitution saving throws.

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Patch 8 marks the final major update for Baldur’s Gate 3, concluding a remarkable journey for Larian Studios. The game, which launched to critical acclaim and commercial success in 2023, has continued to thrive into 2025. However, Larian has announced plans to move on from Baldur’s Gate 3 and the Dungeons & Dragons universe to focus on a new, undisclosed project, leaving fans eager for what's next.

Meanwhile, Hasbro, the owner of D&D, has expressed interest in continuing the Baldur's Gate series. Speaking at the Game Developers Conference, SVP of digital games at Hasbro, Dan Ayoub, hinted at future plans, stating, "We're kind of working out our plans for the future and what we're going to be doing with that. And actually, in pretty short order, we're going to have some stuff to talk about around that." While Ayoub did not specify whether this would involve a new Baldur's Gate game or another form of collaboration, he expressed a desire for a Baldur's Gate 4, though he acknowledged it would take time.

To celebrate the release of Patch 8, Larian will host a Twitch livestream where senior systems designer Ross Stephens will detail the changes and additions, offering fans a closer look at what to expect from this final update.